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Nashua police, fire departments to get new equipment

NASHUA — Police and fire crews throughout the city will be receiving new protective equipment and gear totaling nearly $140,000.

On Wednesday, the aldermanic Finance Committee approved funding for several new purchases that will benefit the Nashua Police Department and Nashua Fire Rescue.

Using U.S. Department of Justice forfeiture funds, city police will be able to acquire 22 new assault shields.

According to Mayor Donnalee Lozeau, the new shields — totaling $48,400 — weigh about 19 pounds compared to the shields currently being used by officers that carry a weight of about 50 pounds each.

“This size shield is a good combination between protection and weight, and is the shield (police) currently have in the three supervisor vehicles,” according to a memo to Lozeau.

The committee also authorized spending $40,928 in Homeland Security Grant money to purchase two new bomb suits and one helmet for the police department.

“The two that they have are about 10 years old,” Lozeau told the committee.

Alderman-at-Large David Deane said the city needs to make sure that local emergency workers have safe and updated gear while voting in support of the purchase from MED-ENG, LLC of New York.

Ten sets of personal protective clothing — at a cost of $17,482 — also was authorized for Nashua Fire Rescue. The fire department will be purchasing the fire gear from Bergeron Protective Clothing of Epsom.

Although the department typically waits until January to order replacement clothing, Lozeau said the costs are expected to increase by about 3 percent in January, which prompted the early purchase request.

Nashua Fire Rescue also requested that three new thermal imaging cameras be bought for the department’s fleet.

“Nashua Fire Rescue has used the Bullard Thermal Imager Cameras since 2000 with great success, and seeks your approval to purchase three replacement cameras with the same features and latest technology,” according to a memo to the mayor from Robert Gabriel, the city’s purchasing manager.

The three cameras, totaling $31,485, will replace three older-model cameras now being utilized, according to Lozeau. Once the new cameras are in operation, all of the department’s thermal imaging devices will be under 10 years old, she added.

All of the purchase requests for the fire and police departments were approved by the committee, totaling $138,295.